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From: hermann@fsc.cpsc.ucalgary.ca (Michael Hermann)
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
Subject: Re: Cheap Force Feedback for VR?
Message-ID: <1990Dec24.082707.7608@cpsc.ucalgary.ca>
Date: 24 Dec 90 08:27:07 GMT
References: <12079@milton.u.washington.edu> <13407@milton.u.washington.edu>
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In article <13407@milton.u.washington.edu> james@TWG.COM (James Marshall) writes
:
>More "HOW TO CREATE VIRTUAL PRESSURE" ideas:
>Is there some kind of piezoelectric (?) material that rapidly
>expands when a voltage is applied to it?

There is a class of fluid compounds, whose name eludes me. These are normally
fluid, until a current is run through them, at which point they form a sort
of crystalline structure, and become much more solid. 

I believe one or more of the US auto manufacturers was looking into using
this goo as integral to reactive suspension systems.

As for a Dataglove application, the fluid could fill a number of small
bladders distributed about the digits, on the back and palms of the glove,
and around the wrist. Electrodes run to the bladders. Of course, use in a VR
application would require that the fluid have a boundary zone before it
turns solid, for graduations in force-feedback. For safety, the required
currents would have to be low, and the fluid non-caustic/non-toxic. Perhaps
someone knows if these compounds fill the bill?


-- 
|  Mike Hermann  | hermann@cpsc.ucalgary.ca
_Organized_ religion is like organized crime: it preys on peoples' weaknesses,
generates huge profits, and is nearly impossible to eradicate.